Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. was in Washington, D.C., on Monday in hopes of restoring the tribe's federal Head Start funds.

Shirley presented a "corrective action plan" to the Administration of Children and Families, a spokesperson said. The agency cut funds to the tribe due to the lack of background checks on employees.

While Shirley was in Washington, Navajo Nation Council leaders held their own meeting to discuss the crisis that has shut down all the Head Start centers and put 900 out of work. They were surprised when Shirley didn't show up, so the issued a subpoena for Vice President Frank Dayish Jr., who was on his way to Michigan but turned around.

The review by the ACF found 106 employees with criminal records and 51 had committed serious offenses like domestic abuse, assault or child abuse.

Get the Story:
N.N. President Shirley skips out on planned meeting to discuss Headstart's future (The Farmington Daily Times 5/9)

Relevant Links:
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Head Start - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb

Related Stories:
'Murderers' working for Navajo Nation Head Start (5/5)
Navajo Nation loses federal Head Start funding (5/4)